Salem County freeholders allocate extra $250,000 for Old Courthouse renovations

Staff photo by Britney LillyaSalem County freeholders have allocated an extra $250,000 for renovations at the Old Courthouse.SALEM — An ordinance recently passed by the Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders will help the renovations at the Old Courthouse continue to move forward.

The freeholders have previously announced plans to hold meetings there once the first phase of the project is completed. The move is not expected to occur until May.

The freeholders currently meet at the “new” Salem County Courthouse at 92 Market St. The Old Courthouse, just down the block, was once the dedicated meeting space for the freeholders.

The recently-passed ordinance will allow approximately $250,000 from the county’s Capital Improvement Fund to be used to cover change orders associated with the Old Courthouse’s restoration.

“We have change orders for the asbestos removal and the bathrooms on the second floor,” Robin B. Weinstein, deputy county administrator and public information officer, said. “These totaled approximately $168,000 and the architect estimated other change orders which will utilize the rest of the funds.”

He added that the county has canceled three old ordinances and used funds from a canceled encumbrance from 2007 to help fund the changes. Weinstein said the balance of approximately $10,000 will be from new budget money.

“The asbestos was completely unexpected,” Weinstein said of the change orders. “The other change orders were a result of the code officials for Salem City requiring an additional bathroom and an industrial-strength sump pump system for the basement.”

Deputy Freeholder Director Dave Lindenmuth said Friday that all the change orders for the renovation project were for necessary things. He added the county’s greatest concern is for the safety of the people coming in and out of the building.

He said that in historic buildings like this one, it is not unexpected that change orders will come up as the project progresses.

“With a building that is this beautiful and historically significant, we want to make sure it is preserved correctly,” Lindenmuth said. “It is going to be worth it. It will be a valuable thing for the county.”

The historic building is known as New Jersey’s oldest continuously-operating courthouse.

The roughly $1.2 million renovation project is being mostly funded from grant money.

The work being conducted at the two-story courthouse will bring it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Phase I of the facelift began in mid-2009 and will include the installation of ramps and an elevator, ADA-compliant bathrooms, and cosmetic work such as new carpeting, painting and window restoration.

Phase II of the renovation will begin immediately after Phase I’s completion and will include work on the structure’s roof.

The Old Courthouse dates back to 1735.

Most recently, the large courtroom has been utilized for the Mid-Salem Joint Municipal Court. Over the years, the deceptively-large second floor had been used as jury rooms, a law library, county offices and for legal services for the poor.